loyola meralco

Phil Younghusband scored the marginal goal to lead the Loyola Meralco Sparks past Green Archers United, while Kaya FC continued its fine form with a victory over defending champion Philippine Air Force Phoenix in United Football League action Saturday at University of Makati.

Younghusband, the league’s leading scorer, booted in a goal at the 81st minute to give the Sparks the 3-2 result over the Archers.

The Younghusband goal quashed a spirited rally by United, which came back from an early 2-0 deficit to tie the match.

Byeong Yeol Jeong opened the scoring for the Sparks after hooking up with James Younghusband at the 23rd minute. Loyola looked to put the game away early in the second half, with Mark Hartmann scoring after dazzling defenders with his dribbling skills at the 47th minute.

But the Green Archers’ reply was fast and furious, courtesy of the speedy Tating Pasilan, who broke through for his team’s first goal at the 49th minute. He once again broke down the Loyola defense to tie the game at the 65th minute, setting up Phil’s heroics.

In the first match, Kaya won its second straight game after the departure of former coach Juan Cutillas, defeating Air Force, 3-1, in a heated match.

Azkals Chieffy Caligdong opened the scoring for Air Force, scoring at the 10th minute. But Kaya grabbed the upper hand before the break as Eric Dagroh and Lexton Moy got on board at the 21st and 33rd minute, respectively.

Things got heated late in stoppage time, with Dagroh getting into a scuffle with Air Force defender Herbert Bayona. Dagroh was sent off after receiving his second yellow card, while Bayona was docked with a yellow.

But despite being a man down, Kaya had the last laugh, as Nicolas Balzico scored at the 94th minute to set the final score.

After the match, Kaya owner Santi Araneta took to Twitter to complain about the rough play. Araneta, who also serves as chairman of the UFL, wrote: “Bayona should be disciplined by the disciplinary committee for a closed fist punch on Dagroh! Very clear on TV & IN REPLAY!”

Phil Younghusband fired a hat trick as Loyola Meralco fought back from three goals down to repulse Kaya Cignal, 5-4, Monday night and reach the finals of the UFL Cup at the Rizal Memorial Stadium.

The 24-year-old national team striker starred in the Sparks’ second half onslaught that allowed Loyola Meralco to forge a championship duel with Air Force Phoenix.

In a rematch of last year’s finals, the Airmen got their revenge as they nipped Global, 2-0, thanks to two late goals from veteran Yanti Barsales and Jaylor Soriano.

The matches, aired live by AKTV on IBC 13, lured a total of 3,000 fans at the historic stadium, which hosted football icon David Beckham and the Los Angeles Galaxy just last Saturday when they played the Philippine national team.

One of the stars of that dream game against the Galaxy, Younghusband spearheaded Loyola’s stirring comeback that included five goals in a 29 minute spell, leaving Kaya in despair.

Mark Hartmann tied the game in the 73rd minute with a curling free kick from 20 yards and James Younghusband scored the go-ahead goal with a header off a corner kick five minutes later.

With Kaya’s backline growing weary, Phil completed his hat trick with a brilliant individual effort five minutes from time before Nate Burkey banged in a consolation goal for Kaya in 95th minute.

“It’s a great feeling to win this way,” said Loyola skipper Pat Ozaeta. “We kept on fighting, took it one goal at a time. We were a little overconfident (in the first half) and we got a wake up call with those three goals (from Kaya).”

Liberian striker Prince Boley’s goals in the 12th and 32nd minutes and another from Ivorian forward Eric Dagroh in the 35th minute looked to have sealed the outcome for Kaya.

But the game turned early in the second half when Prince Boley, who scored two goals in the first half, and injured keeper Saba Garamorudi were substituted.

It was a stunning collapse by coach Juan Cutillas’ side as its fluid attack suddenly went cold in the face of the Sparks’ relentless assault.

In a match that had few chances, Barsales was at the right place at the right time when Global failed to clear the ball, slotting it home with goalkeeper Paolo Pascual already out of position, before Soriano sealed the win in the final minute of stoppage time with a right-footed shot just inside the box.